tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908481285346602112024-03-05T16:20:24.032+00:00From Gangland to Promised LandI'm John Pridmore, an ex-London Gangster, turned Christian... learn how God has changed my life and get in touch to see how I'm spreading the word.John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-35660791956690760492017-12-24T14:35:00.000+00:002017-12-24T14:35:29.123+00:00THE GIFT OF GIVING<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Helvetica; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="min-width: 100%; padding: 0cm 6.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<img id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/0687799b50eaa45ebdd20c895/images/6565995f-a8e9-4f3b-be43-6ce5b0487a6d.jpg" width="564" /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">Wishing you a very Blessed Christmas</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> and</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"> a wonderful New Year.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">Since </span><span style="font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">my last update I have given 5 parish</span></span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"> missions and a number of talks,</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">in Ashford and Athlone in Ireland,</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> in Petersbough, Hoddington, Brentwood </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">and St Helens England,</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">as well as speaking to over 6000 young </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">people in schools, </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">and running a school retreat.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">Sometimes I am too lazy or selfish,</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> to really put myself out for </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">Christ and his will.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">I often think of the words of </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">Saint Mother Teresa, </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">"Give until it hurts” </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">and we will receive great joy when</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"> we do this.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">The greatest healing, </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">freedom, Peace and Happiness</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> I have received,</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"> has all come though giving.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">I meet lots of people who want to be</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> happy in life, or feel they need healing, </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">and when they start to give and help others,</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">they are happy, at peace and healed.</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> Jesus tells us it is though giving</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> that we receive and the more we give, </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">the more he can bless our lives.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">At this time of Christmas Jesus shows</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> us the gift of giving. As he gives </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">himself as a helpless baby, </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">he holds nothing back, it is just total </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">self giving for the salvation of the world. </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">As we know, our world at </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">this moment needs so much saving.</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> In Ireland where </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">I live they want to change the constitution</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> so that they can kill unborn children,</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> Mother Teresa always fought for life.</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">And St John Paul 2nd said </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">a country that kills</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"> its children, lose God.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">The pain and darkness I see in </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">the different parts of the world as </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">I travel is overwhelming at times, </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">but Gods love and light are always more.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">Where there is sin, </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">Grace abounds a 1000 times more.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">I feel that this is the time for us to say</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> “Enough!". </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">We are people of light and people of Christ. </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">As I walked out of the Holocaust </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">museum in</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">Jerusalem, I read , The only thing evil </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">needs to succeed is a few good</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"> people to stay silent.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">The silence in our world today is </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">deafening. </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">We need to say “Enough!" </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">and start working for </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">Christ and his Holy church, </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">not just by giving, but by giving till it hurts.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">Each one of us is born for </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">heroic virtue, and so as we</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> wait to receive Jesus this Christmas, </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">the one who gives us everything, all he has,</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> his Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity,</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> Let us in return say, I give you my life,</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> I give you everything, </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">USE ME AS YOU WILL, for your Glory.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">I will not remain silent,</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"> I will speak up for you my God.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">May each of us open our Hearts</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> to all the Graces and Blessings our </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">wonderful God wants to give us at </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">Christmas time.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">We should never be afraid,</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> as we are assured that </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">God's Mercy is always bigger than</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"> our weakness.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">Know you are in my heart and prayers.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">Please pray for me over the </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">next months, as I will be</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> giving talks and missions</span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;"> in New York, Phoenix, </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">Tampa, Austin, Houston, </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"><span style="color: white;">L.os Angeles., Baltimore, </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">Alabama, Glasgow and Belfast.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">Merry Christmas and may </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; line-height: 45px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">God bless you in his deepest love.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">John Pridmore</span></span></h1>
</div>
John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-22844489577645036272017-10-19T14:19:00.000+01:002017-10-19T14:19:12.687+01:00WHO IS YOUR BOSS<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; max-width: 500px !important; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td id="templatePreheader" style="background-color: #fafafa; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 9px; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="color: #656565; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><strong><span style="color: #0433ff;">I hope you are well and at peace, since my last update I have been to Germany twice, Malta ,England,Scotland and Donegal.</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">Many years ago I was asked to give some talks in Holland, at a youth retreat,The person in charge was very touched by my story</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">and said he had contacts all over Holland and was going to fill my dairy up with bookings,I thought this is great.</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">But with regards the youth retreat, I felt the Holy Spirit telling me to challenge him as there was not much real soiled teaching on Christ.</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">So I was in a dilemma,I prayed to Jesus and felt him say who is your boss, him or me.After telling him that I thought the retreat needed,</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">more Sacrements and solid teaching for the young people, there was no more talk of my dairy being filled up.</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">When I got back to Ireland I was asked to speak at The World youth Day in Sydney, to half a million young people, and again I heard the</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">words, who is your boss him or me.</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">Many times in my life I have had the choice to serve people, or to serve God, I feel this is a massive problem in our spiritual walk.</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">When we do stand up for Jesus he is then able to stand up for us, and the more I have practiced putting God first ,the more my life has been </span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">blessed.</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">Durring the summer I went to 3 shines of our blessed Mother Mary,in west and East Germany to speak at Gig Fest, these were like pop concerts which ended in prayer and I had the grace to share my story, a lot of the young people who attended would not have been church goers, so it was a great way</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">of trying to reach young people where they were at.</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">I also went to the youth 2000 festival in Munich where I gave 4 talks to over 1500 young people.</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">In Donegal I had the blessing of running a healing retreat with my old friend Fr Adrian Crowley for some 30 people.</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">After this I took my mum to Malta for what I thought would be a holiday, but my boss had different ideas and I ended up giving talks and being on </span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">TV, I enclose a link to a short film they made on me, with the main film to follow. </span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">In the months I will be in Ireland, Chicago, England and Scotland, so please keep me in your prayers.</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">Lastly in regards of pleasing God before people, let us ask our loving God to send his Holy Spirit, that we might always know, only one person</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">in this universe can say the words, COME IN GOOD AND FATEFUL SERVANT, Our true boss Jesus Christ.</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">You are in my heart and prayers.</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">God bless you in his deep love.</span><br /><span style="color: #0433ff;">John Pridmore</span></strong></span><br /><br /> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnButtonBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody class="mcnButtonBlockOuter">
<tr><td align="center" class="mcnButtonBlockInner" style="padding: 0px 18px 18px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnButtonContentContainer" style="background-color: #2baadf; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" class="mcnButtonContent" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; padding: 15px;" valign="middle"><a class="mcnButton " href="http://johnpridmore.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0687799b50eaa45ebdd20c895&id=9415ae1603&e=4552adbff4" style="color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="MY WEBSITE">MY WEBSITE</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
<tr><td id="templateHeader" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"></td></tr>
<tr><td id="templateBody" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(234, 234, 234); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-top-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 9px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="color: #202020; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnButtonBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody class="mcnButtonBlockOuter">
<tr><td align="center" class="mcnButtonBlockInner" style="padding: 0px 18px 18px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnButtonContentContainer" style="background-color: #2baadf; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" class="mcnButtonContent" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; padding: 15px;" valign="middle"><a class="mcnButton " href="http://johnpridmore.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0687799b50eaa45ebdd20c895&id=a6222d34fe&e=4552adbff4" style="color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="SHORT FILM OF ME FOR MALTA TV ">SHORT FILM OF ME FOR MALTA TV </a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-28676678313303080802017-06-28T11:56:00.000+01:002017-06-28T11:56:10.192+01:00"GOD'S WILL BE DONE"<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6482" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6483" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;">I hope you are well and at peace.<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6484"></o:p></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6485" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6488" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6489" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;">Since my last update I have run 4 missions in England and South Wales and also been to Croatia and Bosnia. While I was in Bosnia I visited a shrine to Our Lady and spent seven days there for a personal retreat. On the day I arrived I went to confession and then prayed in the main church. While I was praying I asked Our Lady if she wanted me to give talks and minister or to spend a quiet week just in prayer. The thought that came to my mind was from some twenty years earlier when I was in a community and feeling very broken and sinful at the way I was behaving towards those around me and before I went to sleep I said to Our Blessed Mother “You ain’t half got your work cut out to get me to heaven as I am so prideful, selfish and weak” and I felt Our Lady say “If you continue to glorify my son I will make you a saint” These words re echoed in my heart and I realized that Our Lady was saying the same thing to me again.<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6490"></o:p></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6491" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6494" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6495" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;">The reason I had ended up in this shrine was because I was renewing my St Louis de Montfort consecration a few months earlier and I felt Our Lady ask me to spend a week with her. As the priest got up to start the Mass he said “Today is the feast of St Louis de Montfort” </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6494" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6655" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;">and I realized Our God is so wonderfully perfect in every detail of our lives.</span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6671" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;">During my time at this shrine I spoke to many hundreds of people sharing my story and insights with the different groups who had come on Pilgrimage.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6494" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6503" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6504" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;">After this I was giving missions and talks in the UK which included several schools and prison visits. From one of these talks I received the following email<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6505"></o:p></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6506" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6509" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6510" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;">“My name is …….. and I would like to personally thank you for the talk you did at my sons school yesterday. He suffers with anxiety disorders and has been bullied for many years and it is ongoing. Yesterday he text me to tell me he had something to share with me when he came home. I was concerned as I thought it may have been more bullying. When he walked through our living room door I saw a different boy walk in, he seemed to be "SAILING", light, chilled for the want of a better word. It was all down to you. He told me when he was sat in the hall he was cold, it was chilly as they were waiting for you to come to talk to them all. When you entered the room he immediately felt warmth, he wasn't chilly or cold. Thank you, my son was an altar boy at one time but when he was bullied he stopped because they all made fun of him. Today I took him to church and he had confession and the Sacraments. His guardian Angel he tells me is George. Thank you so much for putting strength in his heart, he has a long way to go but this is the start. I haven't seen him so positive like this in over 6 years. I have just downloaded your first book for him to read on amazon kindle.”<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6511"></o:p></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6512" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6515" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6516" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;">At another mission a man came up to me and said that he had killed people but through hearing my story felt that God could even forgive him and he went to confession. Afterwards he was like a new man. Not only does our wonderful God in his mercy forgive us in confession but also gives us the grace to help us to forgive ourselves.<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6517"></o:p></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6518" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6521" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6522" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;">Naturally after four weeks of giving I was beginning to feel quite tired and looking forward to a nice break, when an invite came in for me to speak to about 150 young adults in Birmingham. As I had already booked my ferry back to Ireland it would mean changing the ferry and staying an extra night. However in prayer I felt God<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6523"> </span>wanted me to give this talk. The moment I walked into the hall where the retreat was taking place I was completely enwrapped in God’s love and his Holy Spirit, with tears flowing down my face. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;">It is sometimes when we give until it hurts that God is able to bless our lives the most.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6531" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6532" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6731" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;">When we put God’s plans in front of ours and fully surrender to his will I believe the greatest miracles take place. May we always be obedient to God’s will.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6537" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6540" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6541" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;">Over the next few weeks I will be getting a good rest and then travelling to Germany on a few mission trips and have many missions retreats and talks coming up.<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6542"></o:p></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6540" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6543" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6544" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;">Please keep me in your prayers and know that each one of you is very much in my heart and prayers.<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6545"></o:p></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6546" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6549" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6550" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;">God bless you in his deep love<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6551"></o:p></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6552" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6553" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;">John Pridmore<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6554"></o:p></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6555" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6558" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6561" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6564" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6297" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1498644208298_6567" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-91111084288845462182017-05-13T15:43:00.000+01:002017-05-13T16:04:29.030+01:00I AM NOT FIT TO UNDO THE STRAP OF HIS SANDALS <div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5693" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5694" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><br />
<span id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5694" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I hope you are well. I am writing to thank you for your continued support and prayers for my work of evangelisation and to keep you informed of all the graces which area fruit of those prayers. Since last March I have run 25 parish missions in Scotland, England, Ireland, the United States and Australia and I have been able to travel to several other countries including Spain and Germany to speak at various conferences, retreats, schools and prisons.</span></span><br />
</div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5696" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
</div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5698" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5699" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 11.5pt;">After one of these missions in Peterborough the Parish priest told me that 8 new people joined the RCIA program and wanted to become Catholic. Here follows what he thought of the mission</span></div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5701" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5702" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 11.5pt;">“A month has passed since the mission here at All Souls. I would like to express my wholehearted gratitude for all the hard work during those days of grace. For five nights parishioners were pouring into the Church to listen to talks on the mystery of God’s love, God’s Mercy, God’s healing, God’s gift of Mary and the Holy Spirit. During those evenings they have found the closeness of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, listening to talks on the theme, with adoration, music and scripture readings. The students of our Catholic schools were visited and were so happy to listen to the uplifting and inspirational testimonies on God’s love and came to the church to listen to even more talks. Peterborough prison was also visited with more than 50 inmates inspired by John’s words of humility and sincerity. The people of my parish still talk about the mission and I can see some faces of those who have not been at Mass for a long time. I would recommend John Pridmore to any parish thinking of a mission”</span></div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5704" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5705" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 11.5pt;">Fr Adam Sowa, Parish Priest St Peter and All Souls Catholic Church, Peterborough</span></div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5707" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
</div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5709" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5710" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 11.5pt;">During the visit to Peterborough prison that Fr Adam mentioned, after I had finished speaking I felt inspired to give a copy of my life story to one particular prisoner (it was the only copy I had with me) A couple of days afterwards I was contacted by the Sister who works in the prison and she told me that the man who I had given the book to was in prison for life, he had already served 15 years and had no prospect of release. She visited his cell the day after my talk and she said he fell to his knees in front of her and told her he had read the book in one night and wanted to become a Catholic. This shows you the power of your prayers for our ministry that God can reach into the heart of even the most forgotten of his children and draw them back to him.</span></div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5712" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
</div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5714" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5715" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 11.5pt;">I think one of the most important aspects of our work is visiting schools and witnessing to the young people that God is very real and he loves them and can transform their lives. The following are some typical emails I have received recently from Irish schools</span></div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5717" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
</div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5719" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5720" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5721" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 11.5pt;"> “</span></span><span id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5722" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 11.5pt;">Hi John, I'm 16 years old and I attend a school you recently spoke at. I really wanted to thank you for the speech you gave, it was truly amazing and inspiring! Sorry if this sounds silly but it really did bring a tear to my eye! Your story made me rethink every wrong I've ever done and think about something positive I could've done instead in each situation. Being honest I've never really thought much about my religion, I don't attend church regularly and sometimes I take most of my privileges for granted... I can relate to how you felt as a child/teenager as I had a difficult time as a young child. Not for the exact same reasons as you but something similar and listening to your story made me realize I'm not alone and I'm not the only one going through a rough time and there is in fact someone at this very second going through something much worse than me and so I should be grateful for all I have! I've never usually turned to God or prayed much and I know I was baptized and confirmed a catholic but I would really like to get in touch with my religious side from now on so I've decided I'm going to attend at least one mass every weekend! I really would like to thank you for this, you never really know how much someone's background story could change a person so quickly!”</span></div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5723" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
</div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5726" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5727" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 11.5pt;"> “Hey John, I just wanted to send an email to say thank you. I'm a Catholic myself but I was never brought up to go to mass or pray to God, I was baptized and made my communion but I never had any faith or belief. For years now I've been trying to decide whether I want to continue being Catholic or become atheist and I decided I would become atheist in my own mind. I had never felt or seen any presence of God and Jesus, I never felt special or particularly wanted so I never had faith. When you arrived in our school and we were told what you were here for I instantly turned to my friend and said "Oh here we go, listen to this nonsense for a whole class now". I was soon to find out how that all changed, I realized how powerful and motivating your speech was. This made me think that maybe I didn't give God a chance to show me that he is there with me, maybe he mightn't show me but I know now that he is always there watching and loving whether he shows you or not, and just because you don't feel loved and not special, that doesn't mean you aren't loved less by God and that he will always accept you for who you are whether you made good or bad decisions in life. You've made me notice that God is always there to listen, he will never judge you, laugh at you or tell you that you're useless or too emotional, he will simply listen to you and show you the way to a better life as he did so to you. My grandfather is very religious, He attends mass every Saturday and Sunday, I have asked to join him every Sunday to attend Mass. I'm inspired by you to build a better relationship with God, let him know that I am willing to allow him into my life as I shut him out before. I want to ask him for forgiveness as I didn't give him the chance to help me in my life. I refused to say prayers and I didn't even participate in the prayer you said but the second you were finished speaking, I promised myself that I would go home and make a bigger effort, go to Mass and pray, to go and make up for my mistakes through prayer. Although God doesn't mind, I feel like I owe him an apology” </span><span id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5728" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5730" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
</div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5732" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
I have always believed that the more we give the more we receive. It is a complete privilege and honour that I do not deserve to speak on behalf of Jesus, but it is all Jesus, as he is the source, the beginning and end, the alpha and the omega. I meet many people who become social workers rather than ministers of God’s grace because they forget that it is Jesus who they serve and care more about what people think than what God wants. The way we never forget is through daily prayer, regular confession, receiving the Eucharist as often as possible and never letting go of Our Lady’s hand which is the rosary that keeps us connected to Christ. As St John the Baptist said “I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals” I thank God every day for bringing me to his world of light and giving me the grace to try and serve him each day.</div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5733" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
</div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5735" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
Please pray that I do not get in the way of what Jesus wants me to do.</div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5736" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
God bless you in his deep love</div>
<div id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5595" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5737" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
John Pridmore <a class="yiv8057730013enhancr2_f6b150ab-a3c8-6af3-9aa4-f87af34e7d72" href="http://www.johnpridmore.com/" id="yiv8057730013yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494685800934_5738" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Parish Mission | Catholic Speaker</a></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-49369822489100343662017-04-04T12:14:00.002+01:002017-04-06T15:02:51.834+01:00THOSE WHO ARE FORGIVEN MUCH WILL LOVE MUCHHello everyone<br />
<br />
As we journey towards Easter during this time<br />
of Lent, having given missions and talks in<br />
Manchester, Greenock, Glasgow, Spain,<br />
Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Ashbourne. I have<br />
been reflecting on how much God gives us<br />
through his friendship, forgiveness and<br />
personal understanding of us. When I was<br />
in Spain during a close examination of<br />
my conscience I understood that Jesus<br />
knows every part of me, my desires, my<br />
aspirations, fears, longings, brokeness and<br />
he had a total acceptance and deep, deep love<br />
which was overwhelming (like the joy a<br />
father has at their new born baby) This<br />
helped me to understand how close God<br />
was to me.<br />
<br />
In the second world war, there was a<br />
poster which said "Ask not what your<br />
country can do for you, but ask what<br />
you can do for your country" When we<br />
see what God has done for us, What is<br />
our response? As Jesus said of St Mary<br />
Magdalene "Those who are forgiven<br />
much will love much" and is our<br />
response bringing a joy to God's heart.<br />
Sometimes we think that what matters<br />
to God is loving others but what I feel<br />
God also wants, is for us to love and accept<br />
ourselves. Many people seem to feel<br />
that they fail in loving their neighbour<br />
as they should, but they do not seem<br />
to notice that they fail to love<br />
themselves. I believe this all starts with<br />
ourselves.<br />
<br />
Some years ago I met a girl who had<br />
terrible scars on her neck and lower<br />
face from being burnt. She used to<br />
cover half her face with a scarf. After<br />
going to Lourdes she never covered<br />
her face again. She was able to accept<br />
herself. She felt that by letting people<br />
see her face it would remind them of<br />
how beautiful we are to God and how<br />
he sees us completely, inside and out.<br />
<br />
When I was at Mass the Gospel spoke<br />
to me very powerfully when Jesus<br />
said "I am the resurrection and the life"<br />
I think that each day and each moment<br />
of the day is Jesus bringing us life<br />
through that same resurrection and this<br />
is our joy, our fulfilment, our hope and<br />
our reality, moment by moment. A<br />
little glimpse of heaven on earth. When<br />
we give a free response to his love and<br />
a total abandonment to his will for us<br />
we will receive more happiness and<br />
joy that we deserve or could ever<br />
understand.<br />
<br />
As we prepare ourselves for Holy Week<br />
and the passion which brings us to that<br />
resurrection, maybe we need to take<br />
some quiet time out of our busy lives<br />
and honestly look at our response to<br />
God's all giving, all consuming<br />
unconditional love for us.<br />
<br />
Please pray for my up and coming talks<br />
and missions in London, Ireland, Croatia,<br />
Wales and Germany. May each and every<br />
one of you have a blessed Easter.<br />
<br />
God bless you in his deep love<br />
John Pridmore<br />
<br />John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-88481562154542475172017-02-07T13:14:00.001+00:002017-02-07T13:14:55.142+00:00SET MY CAPTIVES FREEHello Everyone<br />
<br />
When we look at our world today there seems<br />
many people both young and old who are<br />
completely taken over by the culture of<br />
death, the lies and deceits of the world and<br />
what it offers. Over the last few weeks I<br />
have spoken in many schools in England,<br />
Wales and Scotland, hopefully giving the<br />
young people the truth of Christ.<br />
<br />
One priest said to me after one of my talks<br />
in a school "The devil is outragous with<br />
his lies and you destroy his lies with God's<br />
truth" I am always amazed at some of the<br />
incredible teachers who I meet in these<br />
schools that are constantly battling against<br />
the wave of unbelief and bringing many<br />
wonderful seeds to these young people,<br />
with sometimes very little support or<br />
help.<br />
<br />
I always feel it is an immense privilege<br />
to be able to share the incredible goodness<br />
and mercy of God through my own story<br />
and to let each young person know of<br />
how important they are to God and this<br />
world, the gifts and talents they can bring<br />
and the miracles they can work when they<br />
open their hearts to what Jesus is calling<br />
them to be. In response to the thousands<br />
of young people I have spoken to over<br />
the last few weeks I received hundreds<br />
of emails which show not only an<br />
openness but a hunger for Christ's truth.<br />
<br />
We should never belittle our belief and<br />
hope in the miracles that God can work<br />
through us, but we must have the courage<br />
to say Enough! of this tidal wave of<br />
darkness and know where this tidal wave<br />
comes from. It is not individuals or<br />
organisations but a diabolical plan to take<br />
away peoples innocence and leave them<br />
bereft of the spirit of joy, happiness and<br />
peace which God wants everyone of us<br />
to have as our right in being his children,<br />
loved and begotten by him.<br />
<br />
I feel the key to us combatting the<br />
culture of death is to have humility to<br />
say sorry to God when we fall down in<br />
confession and to speak him in honesty<br />
from our heart every moment of every<br />
day, to allow him to run our lives fully<br />
and completely, not holding anything<br />
back. We should not withold anything from<br />
God because he witholds nothing from us,<br />
even laying down his life.<br />
<br />
In my own journey the greatest freedom and<br />
peace I have come across is knowing that<br />
there is no part of me that I have to keep<br />
secret from God. The good, the bad and<br />
the indifferent is already known to my<br />
friend Jesus who knows and accepts every<br />
part of me. When Jesus is for us who can<br />
be against us. I pray that each one of us<br />
has the courage to proclaim Enough!<br />
and destroy all the strongholds of a<br />
world consumed by hopelessness.<br />
<br />
At one of the schools I went in, there was<br />
a young man of 15 being told off by two<br />
teachers. After my talk I felt inspired by<br />
the Holy Spirit to give him a copy of my<br />
life story and I said to him "Never give<br />
up on yourself as Jesus will never give up<br />
on you" and he burst into tears. Part of<br />
the devils lie is that we have to be good<br />
to know God, but the truth says the exact<br />
opposite, it's in our weakness that his<br />
power is made perfect. I thank God every<br />
day for being so weak.<br />
<br />
At the moment I am giving parish missions<br />
in Manchester, Greenock and Glasgow<br />
before giving talks in Spain and Ireland so<br />
your prayers are as always very appreciated.<br />
<br />
God bless you in his deep love<br />
John Pridmore<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-85888958768578296932016-12-07T12:15:00.000+00:002016-12-07T12:15:13.296+00:00WHEN I WAS IN PRISON DID YOU VISIT ME?<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Since my last
update I have given six parish missions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">and a number of
talks in schools, conferences and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">prisons in
Ireland, England, Scotland and the USA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">When I speak in
a prison it is a harsh reminder of<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">how my freedom
was taken away from me in my <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">younger days
during my three prison sentences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">However, on my
travels I meet quite a few people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">who are just as
imprisoned in a spiritual way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">These can be
through fear, worry, anxiety, addiction,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">being
judgemental, being controlling and unforgiveness <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">to mention just
a few.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">In my case I had
a release date knowing that my <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">freedom would be
reestablished when I walked out,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">but some of the
people that I come across do not <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">have any release
date and have battled with these<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">prisons for
years. I am always reminded of the <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">story where
fear, anxiety, hopelessness and misery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">knocked at the
door, but faith answered, and there was<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">no one there. We
should always remember that <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">God’s plan for
us is freedom from all these shackles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">The more we know
the goodness of God’s mercy,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">providence and
love we see that the prisons are<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">just illusions
that we are free to walk away from<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">any time we
choose. Sometimes we can be <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">powerless to do
this, but we never feel there <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">is no hope. In
the famous poem footprints Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">carried the man
in the greatest trials of his life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I remember when
I was addicted to gambling and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I brought this
up in confession and the priest said<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">you are not
culpable for your addiction but you are<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">responsible to
get help for your addiction. In my <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">own case by
allowing God’s love into the part my<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">heart where the
addiction manifested itself I was <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">healed of that
addiction. This was not overnight<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">but a constant
desire in prayer to be set free. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">The twelve step
program AA, GA and NA is a<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">wonderful way to
allow God’s light to penetrate <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">these areas.
These same twelve steps can be a<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">blessing in many
aspects of our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">One of the books
that spoke to me deeply about<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">trusting God’s
goodness was “The Shack”. There<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">is a fictitious
encounter where Jesus tries to teach<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">a man how to
walk on water. The man does not <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">believe that he
can do this, but Jesus reassures <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">him that by
trusting the past to his mercy, the future<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">to his
providence and living the now immersed in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">his love we can
be free!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">On my visit to a
prison in England I had only one<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">book with me to
show the fifty prisoners. I felt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">inspired by the
Holy Spirit after my talk to give <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">the book to one
prisoner. It turned out he had<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">spent fifteen
years in prison with no release date<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">coming up any
time soon. That night he read my<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">book “From
Gangland to Promised Land”. The <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">next morning he
asked to become a Catholic and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">has started his
instruction. I feel sometimes even if <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">we are
physically in prison we can be spiritually set <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">free. As we
journey through these days of advent <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">we should open
our hearts in real honesty and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">sincerity to our
humble God who comes to us as a <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">vulnerable
helpless baby, saying to us, Do not be <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">afraid,
Emmanuel, God is with you in every struggle <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">and the victory
is His.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">May you have a
blessed and wonderful Christmas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">and an abundance
of God’s grace in the new year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">This coming
January I will be speaking to several <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">thousand young
people in schools so please keep <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">this in your
prayers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">God bless you in
his deep love <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>493</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2814</o:Characters>
<o:Company>St. Patrick's Community</o:Company>
<o:Lines>23</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3301</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">John Pridmore</span><o:p></o:p></div>
John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-54367625336048480422016-10-11T10:27:00.000+01:002016-10-11T10:27:46.439+01:00WOUNDS FROM OUR PAST<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>589</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3363</o:Characters>
<o:Company>St. Patrick's Community</o:Company>
<o:Lines>28</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>7</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3945</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">After coming
back from Australia I returned<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">to Ireland and
had the joy of my mum<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">staying with me
for a week. For the last 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">years my mum has
been completely free<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">from any
depression and it is a blessing to <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">see her so happy
and full of life. I thank God <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">for my mum as it
was her prayers that <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">really changed
me and brought me to <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">my conversion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">My mum struggled
with depression since<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I was ten (for
over forty years) Three years<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">ago she went on
a retreat which was about<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">healing memories
and wounds of the past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Through one of
these memories being <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">healed the
result was that she hasn’t been<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">depressed since,
which is a complete<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">miracle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">After some time
of rest I ran a healing retreat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">in Ards friary,
Donegal for past wounds. It was<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">an amazing
blessed weekend with many people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">saying it
changed their lives, and in some <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">peoples cases
you could see the physical <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">change in them
because of the spiritual <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">healings they
received.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I often feel
that God wants us to be healed and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">free to enjoy
all the blessings he wants to give <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">us, but as the
famous phrase says “grace works<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">on nature” and
sometimes we have to invite God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">into the areas
of our past where we have been<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">wounded and
hurt, I remember in my own <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">life after some
time of being with God I realised I<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">was still
addicted to gambling and even though<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I had made a
promise to God that with his grace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I wouldn’t
gamble. I still struggled every day to <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">keep this
promise. I was in Arizona giving some talks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">when I got a
whisper in my head to go to Las<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Vegas. Because I
thought I had been healed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">from my
addiction I went to Las Vegas and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">ended up
gambling again and losing a couple<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">of hundred
dollars. There is a big difference<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">between
surpressing our compulsions and darkness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">than to allowing
Gods light and love to heal us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">On this same
trip to Las Vegas I went into a<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Church feeling
sorrowful and ashamed and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">allowed God’s
love to touch my heart in that<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">area where the
addiction was manifest. Maybe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">this wound was
created by low self esteem or<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">low self worth
as I feel it was God telling me <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">in prayer that
he loved every part of me that <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">transformed and
healed my heart. From that<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">day to this, I
have never had the desire to<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">gamble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Probably most of
us have parts of our lives which<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">we’d like to
change but cannot seem to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Firstly we need
to ask God where the root of<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">these problems
are and this may take some<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">time in prayer
to get the answers. Then we <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">need to invite
God into that memory and to<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">heal it and not
be ashamed of it. St Teresa of<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Avila speaks in
her book “The Interior Castle”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">about allowing
God’s love to transform all the <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">rooms of our
heart. I believe the freedom that<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">God wants us to
enjoy in our everyday lives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">depends on the
effort we put into this process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">It is not enough
to ask God to heal us, we have<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">to be willing to
work with him to pinpoint the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">wounds and with
his help transforms those<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">wounds into
scars (The Sacrament of confession <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">can be a great
grace in this) The thing that stops <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">us from allowing
God’s light and love into those <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">rooms are fear
and shame. But as God is all seeing <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">and all knowing
what are we ashamed of or<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">afraid of. Often
when I’m praying with people <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I get a picture
of them looking at a reflection<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">of themselves
and throwing stones at the relection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">And Jesus takes
the stones from their hands and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">say “Behold my
beautiful daughter, behold my <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">beautiful son”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Since the
healing weekend I have given parish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">missions in
Limerick and Bandon. Also I travelled<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">to Phoenix USA,
where I spoke at a parish, a university<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">and a
conference. I thank God every day for the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">privilege it is
to try and serve him and I pray that <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">each one of us
might begin to see ourselves and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">accept ourselves
and love ourselves as Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Please keep my
work in your prayers as I will be<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">giving parish
missions in Ireland, England and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Scotland and
travelling to France and Florida to<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">give talks and
conferences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">God bless you in
his deep love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">John Pridmore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-1517234054993988652016-08-11T17:24:00.001+01:002016-08-11T17:24:40.646+01:00EVERLASTING FRUITS<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I hope you are
well and at peace. Since last I <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">spoke to you I
have been in Australia for two<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">and a half
months speaking to about 17,000<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">teenagers,
giving 5 parish missions and a <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">number of talks
in prisons, churches, hotels <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">and even banquet
halls. My tour of Australia <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">took me to
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Wagga, Albury
and Griffin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">It was a very
blessed time with lots of Miracles, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I had a number
of people who came up to me <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">saying how they
had heard me speak at World <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Youth Day in
Sydney in 2008. One lady who is <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">now a Nun said
she heard me when she was <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">twelve and knew
she was to become a Nun <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">and had been one
for 2 years now. Another <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">man said he was
not going to Mass when he <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">heard me and now
goes every day, many people <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">said my talks at
world youth day changed their <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">lives. This
helped me to understand how Gods <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Fruits are
everlasting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I think it is
incredible how when God wants <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">something to
happen he opens all the doors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">When Michael (a
young man from Australia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Who spent 15
months with me in community)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">approached me
about running parish missions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">in Australia I
told him I would only come if he<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">could arrange 5
missions as it is a very long<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">way to travel
for anything less. I was doubtful that <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">would happen as
it is very difficult to organize<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">that many
missions. But sure enough he got<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">the missions and
countless other talks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">snowballed from
there. It is a very beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">thing to see the
hand of God at work!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">To speak to so
many Teenage school children <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">was wonderful,
many times speaking to 1200 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">young people at
a time, with lots of Grace and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">hearts being
changed. I met some great <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">teachers who
were only there for God and to<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">bring the young
people closer to Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">In this year of
Mercy it was inspiring to see so <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">many people
return to confession with lots of <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">priests saying
how they heard confessions <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">over 30,40,50
years in the parish missions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The world needs
Mercy and we have this <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">powerful grace
in the Sacrament of <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">reconciliation
where lives are truly healed and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">transformed. One
man emailed to tell how <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">after going to
confession for the first time in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">years, he went
home and just began to weep<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">at the love and
mercy he was experiencing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">He told how a
great weight was lifted from <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">him and a
massive healing took place in his<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I had a lot of people
praying for this tour <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">and thank you
for all your prayers, You did not<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">see the Miracles
I saw and the tears running <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">down peoples
faces as their hearts were being <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">touched by the
love of Jesus. But hopefully one <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">day you will see
in Heaven as Gods everlasting <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">fruits are
revealed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Some years ago
after Cardinal Cook had given <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">a talk to 5000
people and was receiving a standing <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">ovation. He said
“Who is the real instrument of God?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Me, or the man
praying the Rosary for this talk”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Thank you for
all your prayers, and please pray I do <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">not get in Gods
way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">You are very
much in my heart and prayers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>437</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2491</o:Characters>
<o:Company>St. Patrick's Community</o:Company>
<o:Lines>20</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2923</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">John Pridmore</span><o:p></o:p></div>
John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-47163286806068174712016-06-21T06:46:00.000+01:002016-06-21T06:46:52.036+01:00WHEN WE GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE THE TRUTH.....Hello everyone<br />
<br />
I hope you are well and at peace.<br />
<br />
Since my last update I have busy trying to<br />
bring the Gospel alive in many places,<br />
including a few parish missions in Ireland<br />
and England before travelling to Hong<br />
Kong and Australia.<br />
<br />
During this year of mercy I have seen many<br />
people brought back to the heart of Jesus.<br />
At one mission in Ireland a girl in her<br />
twenties, after going to confession for the<br />
first time since she was seven, was so<br />
profoundly touched that the next night she<br />
brought six of her friends and by the end<br />
of the mission, not only had she come<br />
back to Mass but she had also joined the<br />
choir.<br />
<br />
I believe that part of the parish missions<br />
is to bring people back to the vibrancy of<br />
their parishes, where they can find the<br />
wonder of the Sacraments and the depth<br />
of our Catholic faith which is the fullness<br />
of truth and everything we need to equip<br />
us on our journey to heaven. I also find<br />
that some of the parishes aren't as vibrant<br />
as they should be and another aspect of<br />
the missions is to reignite the parishes in<br />
fire of God's love.<br />
<br />
As you would know from my many updates<br />
another aspect of my work is to speak in<br />
a lot of schools and the more I encounter<br />
the assault that the culture of death has<br />
on our young people, the more vital I<br />
think this work is. One priest said to me<br />
after I spoke in a school to five hundred<br />
teenagers "The devil is outrageous with<br />
his lies and we need to be outrageous with<br />
God's truth" Mother Teresa said to me<br />
personally when I had the privilege of<br />
meeting her "When we give young people<br />
God's truth, they always have the choice to<br />
choose it, but if we don't give them God's<br />
truth they never have the choice"<br />
<br />
I remember when I was giving talks and<br />
running retreats in Manchester, I would<br />
always stay with a lovely Catholic family<br />
who had four teenaged boys. Each night<br />
at 7.30pm the Father would say, "It's now<br />
time for the rosary" and the four teenaged<br />
boys would disappear to different parts of<br />
the house. After the father had rounded<br />
up the boys the rosary would be said. One<br />
Sunday when their 18 year son told his<br />
father he wasn't going to Mass anymore<br />
(as they were preparing to go off to Church)<br />
The Father said "No problem but make sure<br />
you and all your stuff are out of my<br />
house by the time I return from Church"<br />
Needless to say this was the end of the<br />
rebellion. This same boy, after getting<br />
married named his first child after Pope,<br />
Benedict, and all those teenaged boys<br />
are now grown up and are solid in their<br />
faith and one of them is in final vows<br />
preparing to become a priest.<br />
<br />
I am asked many times by parents how<br />
should they bring up their teenagers to<br />
go to Mass and pray, when they don't<br />
want to. I tell them the story of two<br />
girls playing outside and one girls mother<br />
comes out and says "I want you in for your<br />
tea in five minutes" So her daughter turns<br />
to her friend and says "I wish my mum was<br />
like yours and let me play out all night" her<br />
friend replied "I wish my mum was like<br />
yours and actually cared about me"<br />
<br />
Sometimes it seems easier to give in and allow<br />
young people to choose what they want to<br />
do, but when we put in the effort, prayer and<br />
witness it brings about amazing graces and<br />
miracles.<br />
<br />
I am now in Sydney giving a number of talks<br />
and parish missions. Over the next couple of<br />
months I will be going to Perth, Melbourne,<br />
Brisbane, Canberra, Wagga Wagga, Albury,<br />
Griffith and Leeton. So please keep me in<br />
your prayers that God's love and mercy<br />
might touch everyone I witness to.<br />
<br />
God bless you in his deep love<br />
You are in my heart and prayers<br />
John Pridmore<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-50989294016507344942016-04-20T14:03:00.000+01:002016-04-20T14:05:51.705+01:00THE GREATEST ATTRIBUTE OF GOD'S HEART<span class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6050" style="background-color: black; font-family: "helveticaneue" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />I hope you are well and had a blessed Easter.</span><br />
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6053" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6053" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6052" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">After the 3 missions in Tampa Florida I travelled </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6053" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">to Lafayette Louisiana, via Houston,Texas.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">In Houston I had the grace of meeting up with </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">some good friends, one of which was Steve </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="yiv8605269202" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: medium;">Bollman. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">It was a wonderful grace to see Steve </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">who started "That Man Is You" Mens prayer </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">groups around the USA, a</span><span style="font-size: medium;">mong other great </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">initiatives. He is someone who tries to put God </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">first in his life and is a good friend,who helps</span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6062" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6061" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">me grow spiritually and is not afraid to challenge </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6062" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="yiv8605269202" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: medium;">me. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Fr Andrew Apostoli, who was my Spiritual </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6062" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">directer said there are 2 types of friends in life, </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6062" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">a buddy who tells you </span><span style="font-size: medium;">everything you want to </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6062" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">hear or a real friend who helps you grow closer </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6062" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">to God.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br class="yiv8605269202" clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6122" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6121" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">In Lafayette, I gave a parish mission over 3 </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6122" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">days also speaking in some schools, it is a </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6122" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="yiv8605269202" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: medium;">parish where they have Adoration </span><span style="font-size: medium;">of the </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6122" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Blessed Sacrament, and the Graces were </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6122" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">amazing, with a full church each night, </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6122" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">many people making great confessions,</span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6134" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">and lots of deep spiritual and physical healing.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br class="yiv8605269202" clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6151" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6150" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Then I went to England and gave a mission in </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6151" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Tonbridge, it was a second mission leading up </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6151" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="yiv8605269202" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: medium;">to Easter, again with lots of wonderful </span><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: medium;">Lenten </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6151" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Graces.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202yqt2853795639" id="yiv8605269202yqtfd07816" style="font-family: helveticaneue, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6161" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6161" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6160" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">On Palm Sunday I was in Chester giving a talk </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6161" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">to young people for Bishop Mark Davis, This </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6161" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">was another blessed day.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6159" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br class="yiv8605269202" clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6158" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6157" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">I spent Easter In Dubai, and was very touched </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6158" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">by the workers faith, who can work up to 15 </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6158" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">hours a day, with one day off each month.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6188" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6187" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Yet the church there is packed with these </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6188" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">people, worshiping Jesus, with 3 hour queue’s </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6188" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">for confession. On Easter Sunday there must</span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6197" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6198" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">have been over 20,000 people at Mass, in the </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6197" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Church and Church courtyard, what a </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6197" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">wonderful witness of Faith.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6196" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br class="yiv8605269202" clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6195" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6194" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Back in Ireland I gave a mission in Cork before </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6195" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">traveling to Portugal for a personal retreat.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br class="yiv8605269202" clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6218" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6223" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">During this year of Divine Mercy I have seen so </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6218" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">much more Grace for the world, As if Jesus is </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6218" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">reaching down to each person and inviting </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6215" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6217" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">us to have real freedom in his forgiveness, </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6215" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">all we have to be is humble enough to see </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6215" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">how broken and weak we are, that we </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6215" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="yiv8605269202" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: medium;">cannot manage </span><span style="font-size: medium;">on our own, to see our </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6215" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">smallness and allow our loving God to take </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6215" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">us in his arms, and say I am with you, let me </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6215" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">hold you and heal you, let me carry </span><span style="font-size: medium;">you, </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6215" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">do not be afraid of making mistakes, do not </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6215" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">be afraid of getting it wrong, Just keep trying </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6215" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">and all you need I will give you, because you </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6215" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">belong to </span><span style="font-size: medium;">me and you are part of my heart, </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yiv8605269202yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461155385982_6215" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">you are fully loved by me.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_10378" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br class="yiv8605269202" clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_10380" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_10379" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">How Blessed we are to have Christ in the </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_10380" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Eucharist, Confession, the scriptures, Our </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_10380" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Blessed Mother Mary, the Saints, the angels, </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_10380" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="yiv8605269202" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: medium;">all we need to get </span><span style="font-size: medium;">to our Eternal Goal, Heaven. </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_10380" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">How blessed we are to have Christ’s Church </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_10380" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">and our Holy Father Pope Francis.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_11502" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br class="yiv8605269202" clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_10408" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_11501" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Know you are very much in my heart and </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_10408" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">prayers, please pray for me as I will be giving </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_10408" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">missions and talks in Ireland, England, </span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_10408" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Hong Kong and Australia.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_11500" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br class="yiv8605269202" clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_14838" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_14849" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">God bless you in his deep love.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_14847" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br class="yiv8605269202" clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /></span></div>
<div class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_14846" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">
<span class="yiv8605269202" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461156050605_14848" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">John Pridmore</span></div>
</div>
John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-48431920232628352312016-03-15T12:40:00.000+00:002016-03-15T12:40:15.908+00:00GIVE UNTIL IT HURTS!<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
Hello Everyone</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
I hope you are well and at peace.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
At the end of my speaking tour of schools in</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
England I had been feeling quite ill and very</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
depleted and even though I was booked to</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
go and speak in Fargo, North Dakota I was</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
seriously considering cancelling because I</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
wasn’t sure I had it in me. Yet when I prayed</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
I really felt God encouraging me to go. It</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
turned out to be a week of grace. After one</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
talk at a university a student told me his</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
story. As a young boy someone had badly</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
hurt him and he had immense anger and</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
hatred towards this person who had taken</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
away his innocence, by his own description</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
he said it was eating him up inside and</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
nothing could give him peace. But after</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
hearing my talk he went to confession and</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
confessed all the anger and unforgiveness</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
and afterwards he felt that God and set him</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
completely free and he had a deep sense</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
of peace and closeness to Jesus. This just</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
reminded that Blessed Mother Teresa</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
always used to say “Give until it hurts”</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
and it is in that giving when it really costs</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
us something, that God can work miracles</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
of grace!</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
After this I travelled back to speak at</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
Parish missions in Liverpool and Clonlara</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
Co Clare. While I was back in Ireland I</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
ran a school retreat for my old friend</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
Fr Michael from Irvinestown. All the</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
students went to confession and it was</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
nice to see some of them come back</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
who had been on the retreat on</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
previous years.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
Next I went to Florida to run 3 parish</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
missions in and around Tampa. At one</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
of these a lady told me that she had</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
done something she regretted 14 years</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
ago and had been carrying around that</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
sin ever since. It was like a cloud of</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
doom that hovered over her so that</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
she never felt true joy within her. But</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
after going to confession and bringing</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
this sin to Jesus she said it was like</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
experiencing a resurrection in her</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
heart. This is the year of mercy and</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
Jesus wants us to come to him with</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
all our burdens and experience his</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
forgiveness and healing.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
Sometimes on the missions there is</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
a day dedicated to Mary and we will</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
set up a petitions box before a picture</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
or statue of our blessed Mother. One</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
married couple who attended the</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
week wrote out a petition and</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
placed it in the box which represents</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
the Immaculate heart of Mary. They</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
prayed for their son who is addicted</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
to drugs. The following day he</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
approached his parents and asked</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
them to help him overcome his</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
addiction. He is now in the Cenacolo</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
community (a community which helps</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
people break addictions through prayer</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
and communal living, which is highly</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
effective) in Florida. That is the power</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
of prayer! When people come to the</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
mission and make the sacrifice</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
to go out of their way to put God first</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
in their lives, God is never outdone in</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
his generosity.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
As we continue our journey of lent let</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
us pray for one another that we would</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
have generous and open hearts to all</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
God asks us to do.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
God bless you in his deep love</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
John Pridmore</div>
John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-78437348341845316082016-01-29T12:10:00.001+00:002016-01-29T12:10:40.461+00:00GOD IS THE KEY TO ALL WONDER<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
Hello everyone</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
I hope you are well and at peace.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
As the new year began I embarked upon a speaking<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
tour of secondary schools in England. I spoke in 15<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
schools across the country to around 5,000 students.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
It started with two schools arranged by my old<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
friend Fr John Mckenna who is now based in a parish<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
in Barnet, North London. It was great to spend some<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
time with Fr John and to see him flourishing as a<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
Parish Priest. When I first knew him he was a lay<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
Man like myself and we worked together running<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
youth retreats all around the London area. I watched<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
as his calling in life became clear to him, and now I<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
can see how he is using all his gifts to serve God’s<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
people in his role as Parish priest. It reminded me<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
that no matter what God calls us to do, if we say<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
yes to that plan we can find a joy and fulfilment<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
that the world cannot give. Fr John said to me that<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
the most important part of his day was spending<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
time with the Lord in prayer where he would hand<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
over everything to God and receive all the grace<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
and strength he needed, he said he couldn’t survive<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
without that time with the Lord.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
It struck me as we visited the different schools how<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
important the role of head teacher is when trying to<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
make God be the centre of a school. We all know the<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
pressures that teachers are under now, so that the<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
students get the results that are expected of them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
Because of this, faith can fall by the wayside and be<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
seen as unimportant. But on this tour I met some<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
incredible head teachers and spent a good deal of<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
time speaking with them. One head teacher in<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
Birmingham said that she would begin each day<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
and make each decision through prayer. She <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
quoted St Francis de Sales who recommended<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
starting the day with half an hour of prayer. But<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
if you were too busy you should make it an hour.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
I could see the difference this made to the students,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
there was a great openness to God with dozens of<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
them emailing me afterwards to say how God had<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
touched their lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
In another school, after my talk had finished the<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
head teacher took most of the morning away from<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
what must be a busy schedule to bring me to visit<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
one of his students who had got in trouble with the<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
police. He was taking part in a scheme outside the<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
school and the headmaster thought that it would help<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
the young lad to speak with me. Because of this<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
teachers influence (he also took the lad to Our lady’s<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
shrine in Lourdes to look after the sick where he<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
had a beautiful experience of God’s love for him)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
the boy’s life is literally being transformed. It<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
reminded me of Jesus’ parable of the good shepherd<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
who leaves the ninety nine sheep in the pasture to<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
go searching for the missing sheep. During this year<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
of mercy that is what we are all called to do!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
After a couple of weeks had passed of the new year <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
One of my friends asked me had I picked a saint to<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
help me throughout the year. I realised I hadn’t so<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
I prayed asking if there was a particular saint who<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
wanted to help me this year. The one that came to<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
me was Saint Martin de Porres, as things turned<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
out it didn’t take him long to get working. After<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
completing a morning talk in one school I managed<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
to get to a local lunchtime Mass. During the Mass<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
after receiving Holy communion the priest came up<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
to me and asked me if I was John Pridmore? So<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
after Mass I went to have a cup of tea and a chat<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
with the priest who it turns out had met me years<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
earlier when he was a seminarian. We had a really<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
blessed conversation with loads of little miracles<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
taking place and I knew that God had arranged all<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
this. The priest mentioned that he was supposed<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
to be doing a talk to an assembly at the local<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
secondary school that afternoon and he wasn’t too<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
sure what to speak about. So I asked would he like<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
me to speak, and he said that would be great. So we<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
went to the school and I ended up sharing my story<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
with hundreds of students. The headmaster was<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
another man of God who told us that every<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
morning he prayed that the Holy Spirit<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
would sweep down on his students and guide and<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
protect his school. What great hope there is for<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
our young people with men like him guiding them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
And after all that, what was the name of the school?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
St Martin de Porres School!! The saints are very real<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
and are there to help each of us in the mission that<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
God has entrusted to us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
While I was in the North of England My friend Fr<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
Frankie Mulgrew invited me to a special ceremony<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
where his dad was receiving a papal knighthood for<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
all the amazing work he has done for the Church and<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
many charities through the years. Fr Frankie’s dad<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
is the comedian Jimmy Cricket and he is a great man<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
of faith and full of love for all those he meets. The<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
Bishop John Arnold said the Mass and awarded him<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
the papal knighthood. After communion Jimmy got<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
up to say a few words and he said above all he wanted<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
to thank God because he remembers when he first<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
arrived in England from Northern Ireland as a young<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
man, he was all alone and he owned nothing. But<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
went into a chapel in Liverpool and he knelt down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
and asked God to guide his life. Not long after he<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
got a very good job in entertainment, met his lovely<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
wife May and the Lord has blessed and<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
guided them and their family all through the years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
We truly serve a truly faithful God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
I just wanted to thank you for praying for me and all<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
those I speak to. So many young people emailed me<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
to say how they hadn’t believed that God existed but<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
during my talk they had experienced the power of<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
God’s presence and his love and mercy and it had<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
changed their lives. I know that this can only come<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
about when people are praying and interceding, so<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
please keep it up!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
You will remain very much in my prayers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
God bless you in his deep love<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
John Pridmore</div>
John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-66334304271292394402015-12-09T12:25:00.004+00:002015-12-09T12:31:44.986+00:00A TIME FOR MERCY!Hello Everyone<br />
<br />
I hope you are having a Blessed and Holy advent!<br />
Since my last update we have given parish<br />
missions in Charlestown, Ballyduff and<br />
Causeway, Crumlin, Tubberclair and Glasson,<br />
Castleknock, Drumshanbo and Clondalkin<br />
(All in Ireland) I also travelled to Canada and<br />
France.<br />
<br />
At the parish missions, one of the themes that<br />
seems to be essential is mercy and forgiveness.<br />
Forgiving those who have hurt us, or someone<br />
we love. At a mission an older lady came up<br />
and said "The one thing that is missing in the<br />
world at the moment is mercy!" Often when<br />
we do not forgive we allow the person or<br />
people who have hurt us to have a hold on us<br />
by allowing bitterness to eat us up inside and<br />
take away our peace, and the peace of those<br />
closest to us. When we ask Christ to help us<br />
to forgive, the opposite is true because not only<br />
are we set free, we allow God to work miracles<br />
and set others free. So in this year which is<br />
dedicated to the greatest attribute of God's<br />
Heart (His Mercy) Let us ask God to help us<br />
to forgive just as we have been forgiven.<br />
<br />
When I travelled to Sault Sainte Marie in Canada,<br />
I had the opportunity to give a number of talks<br />
in prisons, schools and conference centres.<br />
One of the nights was a banquet in thanksgiving<br />
for our priests and religious and there were over<br />
400 people there. It was a night of real grace and<br />
blessing, with many clergy and the Bishop of<br />
the diocese being very touched and it reminded<br />
me how important it is to honour and thank the<br />
people who consecrate their lives to the service<br />
of God. As I was sharing my story it occurred<br />
to me what an incredible grace it is to be able<br />
to serve God. Often we can forget who it is that<br />
we serve and get caught up with what people<br />
think rather than what God is saying. There is<br />
only one Person who we should live for and<br />
only He can say the words "Come in good and<br />
faithful servant" at the end of lives.<br />
<br />
While I was in France I visited Paris and ate in<br />
the pizza restaurant in which five people were<br />
murdered by the Islamic state terrorists. This<br />
atrocity happened just 2 hours after I had left the<br />
restaurant. This, I must say felt quite surreal and<br />
on reflection I was wondering if the people who<br />
were killed could have been the waiter or waitress<br />
serving me and how they might have changed<br />
their last moments or indeed their lives if only<br />
they had known what was about to take place.<br />
Again, mercy seemed to be the key as I prayed<br />
the Divine mercy chaplet for all those affected<br />
by this tragedy. That weekend when I attended<br />
the masses, the churches were full and the<br />
people of Paris seemed to have an awakening<br />
as to what is really important. God seemed to<br />
be saying where sin abounds, grace abounds<br />
infinitely more.<br />
<br />
My next port of call was catching the train to<br />
Lourdes with my mum, as this is her favourite<br />
shrine to Our Lady. While I was there I went<br />
to confession at the grotto as I was feeling a<br />
bit wretched and broken and in need of a hug<br />
from God. During the confession, to my<br />
surprise, the priest said to me "You should<br />
give thanks for the great grace of God giving<br />
you an informed conscience and it shows that<br />
he is very close to you" This seemed to be the<br />
hug that I needed, and as he said the words of<br />
absolution I did thank God for knowing my<br />
wretchedness and need of His mercy. Saint<br />
Francis de Sales, who had a wonderfully<br />
loving mother, once said that he would rather<br />
be judged by God than by his own mother.<br />
<br />
So let us pray during this time of advent that<br />
we might open each room of our heart to the<br />
healing merciful love of our saviour, who not<br />
only comes in the humility of a helpless child<br />
but also comes in the humility of the bread<br />
of life, and let us be transformed into his<br />
light which this world so longs to see.<br />
<br />
May you have a Blessed and wonderful<br />
Christmas and a happy and Holy new year.<br />
Thank you for all of your prayers.<br />
<br />
John Pridmore<br />
<br />
PS Please pray for my 5th book which will<br />
be based on spiritual warfare that I would not<br />
get in the way of what God wants.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-58799995877056873542015-10-20T14:31:00.000+01:002015-10-20T14:31:08.084+01:00MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
Hello everyone</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
I hope you are well and at peace.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
At the end of August I travelled to England to do a</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
talk at a youth conference for a group called Jesus</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
Youth. There were about 400 young people </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
attending. I gave my testimony followed by a time</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
for questions. These were very deep and to me </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
expressed what the young people were struggling</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
with, ranging from accepting themselves to </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
sometimes feeling isolated and lonely.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
In answer to self acceptance I would say that we </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
have to start looking past our brokeness and</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
sinfulness to see the reality that God uses us in</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
our weaknesses for His glory. This is not to say</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
that we shouldn’t examine our conscience, but </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
that we shouldn’t focus on where we get things </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
wrong, but bring these things to God’s mercy.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
As for feeling isolated, I think a lot of people old and</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
young, are deep down very lonely and are always</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
trying to be what other people want them to be in</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
order to win their friendship. But these relationships</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
have no grace as they are based on a lie. So it may</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
appear that we have many friends around us but the</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
reality is that no one truly knows us as we are never</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
real and never ourselves, hence this only adds to</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
our loneliness rather than relieving it. The opposite</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
is true when we are real and not wearing any masks,</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
that’s when we have deep friendships that are based</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
on truth, because our friends really know and </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
understand us. The isolation is then automatically</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
taken away.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
Next I travelled to Canvey Island to do a mission </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
with a good friend of mine Fr Eamonn. He is </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
someone who has great discernment and a lot</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
of experience when it comes to spiritual warfare.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
It’s always a blessing to see the fruits of God </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
working in the parish missions. Because we have</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
Mass, adoration, confession, the rosary and call</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
upon all the angels and saints of heaven, one </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
priest said it is like us standing aside and </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
allowing Jesus to do the mission.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
My next stop was Los Angeles to give some talks.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
While I was there I met my good friend Paul </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
Kelmenson, the film producer who is still very</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
interested in making my first book into a film. Also</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
while I was there I had the joy to meet another </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
friend of mine, James Pinedo who is a young</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
man who has stepped out in faith to make pro life</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
films. His first venture seems to be very exciting</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
and hopefully will be on the big screen very soon.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
On returning to Ireland we ran a mission in the </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
Divine mercy church in Lucan South. One of the </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
things that touched my heart was seeing the primary</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
school kids come every night of the mission. They</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
seemed to be captivated by wanting to know Jesus</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
more. One little boy aged nine asked when we were</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
coming back because he didn’t want the mission to</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
stop. It reminded me that Jesus said “Come to me </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
as little children!”</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
I then caught a flight to Washington where I did a </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
number of talks and a parish mission in Maryland</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
near Washington DC. I was in a parish where there</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
are amazing graces happening with the young </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
people with great work going on in the local schools,</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
summer camps and various parish youth groups.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
The have had a number of vocations to the </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
priesthood and religious life and it was great to see</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
so many people, including the parish priest on fire</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
with the desire to bring the Gospel alive. In the high</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
school where I spoke to 700 students, 250 young </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
people are receiving monthly spiritual direction,</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
which I thought was a brilliant idea and the fruits</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
of this were self evident. At the end of my time in</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
the parish it was wonderful to have 4 people of</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
different ages come up to me saying how the </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
mission had changed their lives. It always amazes</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
me how God is so faithful and can use the most</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
broken of instruments, if we give Him permission!</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
People sometimes say to me that I am doing</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
so much good, but the truth is that it is God who is </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
so good and it is a privilege to speak on His behalf.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
May God bless you in his deep love</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
John Pridmore</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-41073050857616224362015-08-28T12:58:00.003+01:002015-08-28T13:09:10.010+01:00A SUMMER OF GOD FIRST<h3 style="color: rgb(227, 95, 11) !important; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 22.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'helvetica neue', 'segoe ui', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3 style="color: rgb(227, 95, 11) !important; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 22.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'helvetica neue', 'segoe ui', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px;">I hope you are well and at peace,</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'helvetica neue', 'segoe ui', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'helvetica neue', 'segoe ui', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Over the last few months I have visited<br />
many countries including Germany,<br />
Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Russia,<br />
Belgium, Scotland, England and the<br />
Czech Republic.<br />
<br />
When we try to put God first he seems to </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
be able to bless our life so much more. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In the first years of being converted I felt </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
that to show God that I loved him I </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
needed to pray and go to Mass, as if I </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
was doing God a favour. Now I </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
understand the more time I can give God, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the more he can bless my life. God has a </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
wonderful plan for us, but can only show </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
us this plan if we put him firmly first in our </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
lives.</div>
</span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'helvetica neue', 'segoe ui', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Over the Summer I had the blessing to </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
speak to Priests and religious in Waterford, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
at the Little sisters of the poor. This was a </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
real Grace for me because when I first </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
came to Ireland, I had no house or place </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
to stay and the Little sisters put me up </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
many times, fed me and looked after me. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
At the talk there were about 200 people, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
it was to celebrate the gift of religious life. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Again people who have tried to put God </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
first in there lives, and have the wonderful </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Joy that goes with it.</div>
</span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', 'segoe ui', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;">
I also had the pleasure of spending time </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
in Russia,Prague and Estonia, it is a </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
wonderful gift to see the openness now</div>
</span><span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', 'segoe ui', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;">
to faith, when for so many years the </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
people and church was so persecuted. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There is a real hunger in the people for </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the truth of the Catholic Church and its </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
teachings. The pain in the older people is </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
still there and the stories I heard of some </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
of the struggles under the communists </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
were quite remarkable. When a country </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
turns away from God it turns away from </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
love, mercy, openness and goodness.</div>
</span></span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', 'segoe ui', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;">
I traveled over to Scotland and England </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
visiting the Cenacolo community and the </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Shrine to our Lady of Walsingham. The </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Cenacolo community was started for men </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
struggling with addictions, I shared my </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
story and one of the men asked me how I </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
stopped hating myself. I said I started </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
seeing myself as God sees me without </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Judgment, anger or condemnation, but </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
with mercy, love and understanding.</div>
</span><span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', 'segoe ui', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;">
When I wrote my first book my mum </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
would not read the part of the book </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
where I was so bad as a gangster in </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
London, she did not mind reading the </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
other parts where I tried to be good and </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
had found God. Then she told me she </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
had read the bad bits. When I asked </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
what she thought, she started crying and </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
said, I thought my poor wounded little boy, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
she did not see me as a monster only a </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
hurt little boy making so many bad choices.</div>
</span><span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', 'segoe ui', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;">
And I knew this was a slight reflection of </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
how God sees us, with an amazing mercy, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
love, and understanding, as his beautiful </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
little boy or girl who have been hurt by </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
our sins and other peoples sins and </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
needing him to hold us and heal us in his </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
forgiveness and love. At the Shrine to our </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Blessed Mother I was able to spend some </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
time in prayer and meet good friends.</div>
</span></span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'helvetica neue', 'segoe ui', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;">
My last trip was to Munich to give some </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
talks at a youth prayer festival, it was very </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
blessed with hundred of people going to </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
confession, many inner healings of </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
forgiveness and self worth. My high point </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
was a 22 year old homeless guy who had </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
heard me on the radio and came as his </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
story was like mine, we met and spent time </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
chatting and he made his first confession </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
and just cried and cried because he felt </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
so loved by God, when I left he stayed on </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
to help, and you could see God was going </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
to look after him as he had chosen to try </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
and put God first in his life.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Please pray for me as I have visits to England,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Los Angeles, Washington and Toronto in the</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
next few weeks.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
You are very much in my heart and prayers,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
God bless you in his deep love</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
John Pridmore</div>
</span></h3>
<div class="yqt5341608830" id="yqtfd12731" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-17943547612174540842015-05-27T11:26:00.002+01:002015-05-27T11:26:26.952+01:00OUR HOPE IS IN JESUS CHRISTHello everyone<br />
<br />
I hope you have had a very blessed and Holy<br />
eastertide! I had a restful time over easter<br />
in Ireland and it was nice to spend 10 days<br />
in our community house. When I reflect<br />
back to when I arrived in Ireland 14 years<br />
ago with a few clothes, a secondhand car<br />
which was given to me and 60 pounds in my<br />
pocket, it has been amazing how God has<br />
provided everything I've needed to do<br />
his most holy will. I have never gone<br />
without a bed or missed a meal (as my<br />
waistline will attest to) When Jesus says<br />
"Do not worry about what you are to eat, or<br />
what you are to wear" it is as true today<br />
as it was 2000 years ago.<br />
<br />
After easter I travelled to Birmingham<br />
to speak at a number of schools. It was a<br />
great grace to see Christ being resurrected<br />
in so many young people and their teachers.<br />
One of my greatest joys is to speak in<br />
secondary schools and to bring hope into<br />
young peoples lives about how much God<br />
loves them and how important they are to<br />
him. After speaking in 4 schools to over<br />
1000 young people the emails and feedback<br />
were humbling and is always a reminder<br />
of how God's light shines through our very<br />
brokeness and in our weaknesses God's<br />
strength is made perfect.<br />
<br />
One of my friends once said to me, "I am praying<br />
for you to be like St Juan Diego" who by simply<br />
sharing his story converted 10 million<br />
Mexicans. When we share our testimony, we<br />
share God's miracles and he able to create<br />
many more.<br />
<br />
When I got back from Birmingham to Ireland<br />
we gave a mission in Mayfield in Cork city.<br />
One of the things that touched me from this<br />
mission was the amount of young people who<br />
came from the school to the amazement of the<br />
some of the parishioners. One parishioner<br />
commented on the radio "You must come to<br />
this mission it was full of skinheads, punks<br />
and young people of every background that<br />
you wouldn't expect to see in a church".<br />
<br />
I then travelled to Beaumont in North<br />
Dublin. This is a city parish and the<br />
people are amazingly friendly with a great<br />
love and openness for God. The mission<br />
was very blessed in so many ways and<br />
some of the people came up and told me<br />
how through the mission they felt Jesus<br />
was walking with them even in the pain<br />
of their lives.<br />
<br />
When we are going through a tough time<br />
or feel we are failures, it is then that God's<br />
grace is the most powerful. In the worlds<br />
eyes the crucifixion of Jesus was a total<br />
failure but this victory was God conquering<br />
death. Some people in Ireland and the<br />
world feel the recent referendum to open<br />
marriage to homosexual couples was a<br />
failure, but I believe God will use this to<br />
wake up the Irish people into seeing that<br />
God's law cannot be changed. He will also<br />
bring about an overwhelming grace to the<br />
wonderful Holy Sacrament of true marriage<br />
between a man and a woman. As my old<br />
spiritual director Fr Andrew Apostolli from<br />
the CFRs once said to me "If a million people<br />
say this is right, but in God's law it is wrong,<br />
it is still wrong" Our hope as always is in<br />
Jesus Christ.<br />
<br />
Having given another mission in Belturbet,<br />
Co Cavan, and speaking at the secondary<br />
school I flew to Newcastle where I gave a<br />
number of talks in schools parishes and a<br />
doctors conference. At this event it was very<br />
inspiring to meet so many doctors and nurses<br />
who stand up for the teachings of the Catholic<br />
Church and will not compromise these ethics<br />
in all that they do in their chosen professions.<br />
<br />
In all the parish based missions, schools<br />
and other talks I give I find that there is<br />
an ocean of grace available if I spend<br />
enough time in prayer. More and more I<br />
understand that when we want God<br />
to create miracles then we have to give him<br />
permission and this comes through prayer<br />
and sacrifice.<br />
<br />
As Mother Teresa said<br />
"The fruit of silence is prayer,<br />
The fruit of prayer is faith,<br />
The fruit of faith is love,<br />
The fruit of love is service<br />
and the fruit of service is peace"<br />
<br />
Please keep me in your prayers over the coming<br />
months as I will be travelling to Denmark, Russia,<br />
Belgium, England, Germany, USA and Canada.<br />
<br />
You are very much in my prayers<br />
<br />
God bless you in his deep love<br />
John Pridmore<br />
<br />John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-32232286483847138802015-04-01T11:52:00.000+01:002015-04-01T11:52:35.847+01:00PUTTING JESUS IN FIRST PLACEHello Everyone<br />
<br /><br />
Wishing you a very holy and blessed Easter.<br />
<br /><br />
Since the last update the good Jesus has<br />
kept me very busy. Having given a mission<br />
in Turf Lodge, Belfast which was like a <br />
walk down memory lane for me. When I <br />
first came to Ireland some 14 years ago I spent<br />
a lot of time in West Belfast giving retreats<br />
and talks in schools and parishes. The people<br />
are very welcoming and open to the Spirit of<br />
God. In this mission I met some good friends<br />
and it was nice to see the openness again in<br />
the people. Mother Teresa always said that<br />
where there is great persecution there is great<br />
faith.<br />
<br /><br />
I then travelled to El Paso in Texas to do a<br />
number of talks in Churches and schools,<br />
and also Juarez and Mexico city across the<br />
border in Mexico. Juarez you might <br />
remember was very much in the headlines <br />
as being the murder capital of the world, with<br />
an average of 10 people being murdered a day<br />
for 4 years. In one of my talks a man came in<br />
who whose face and head were completely<br />
covered with tattoos (which is sign of being<br />
a gang leader) at the end of my talk I went<br />
over to the man and gave him a hug. He<br />
started to weep and told me that he really<br />
struggled in forgiving himself for what he<br />
had done. It turned out that he was a warlord<br />
in charge of a big gang in Juarez and had <br />
changed his life round and was giving talks<br />
in Churches and schools. The man had been<br />
shot 9 times and had ordered the deaths of <br />
many others. We spoke about the incredible<br />
mercy of God and how he was a God who<br />
loves to forgive! I felt in my heart that this<br />
man was going to bring many souls to Jesus.<br />
<br /><br />
Juarez was a place of real poverty and yet <br />
the people had a great joy and faith. Again<br />
Mother Teresa's words came back to me,<br />
"Where people are persecuted there is great <br />
faith".<br />
<br /><br />
The person who arranged all these talks was<br />
an old friend of mine called Laura who lives<br />
in El Paso with her husband and 4 children.<br />
It was a wonderful grace to be a part of their<br />
family for 2 weeks. During this time I flew<br />
to Mexico city and spoke in a school to 700<br />
boys. It was such a blessing to be able to also<br />
spend some time at Our Lady of Guadalupe's<br />
shrine. Many years previously this was the<br />
image in which I made the first consecration<br />
of my life to Jesus through Mary, leading me<br />
to be able to forgive myself and see myself <br />
as God sees me without judgement or <br />
condemnation, but mercy and understanding.<br />
<br /><br />
My next stop was St Patrick's church in Tampa,<br />
Florida where I ran a mission for a week. This<br />
was an amazing parish run by Franciscan <br />
priests. It was such a blessing to see so many<br />
lives touched by the grace of confession and <br />
the Eucharistic healing service. I also had the<br />
privilege of speaking to 500 young people in<br />
St Petersburg, Florida. During this time of<br />
mission there was a mother who was worried<br />
about her 33 year old son who was not <br />
interested in God or the Church. I told her to<br />
go to Mass for 9 days consecutively and pray <br />
a 9 day novena to St Teresa of Avila (Who <br />
is a tough cookie) The mother emailed me to<br />
say that on the 5th day her son had asked her<br />
to take him to confession because he wanted <br />
to change his life. Since then there have been<br />
other miracles when people have prayed the <br />
same novena.<br />
<br /><br />
I then came back to Ireland to do a mission <br />
in Bantry, West Cork for an old friend of<br />
mine Fr Sean Crowley. It was a joy to see<br />
Fr Sean as a priest. When I first came to<br />
Ireland, his family were very kind to me and<br />
in those days both Fr Sean and his brother<br />
were farmers. <br />
<br /><br />
His brother became Brother Patrick of the <br />
CFRs. We should always be open to what <br />
God's will in our life is, as both these men <br />
are a great witness in their vocations.<br />
<br /><br />
After this I went back across the Atlantic to<br />
speak at the largest men's conference in <br />
America. It is called Men of Christ and <br />
is held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The <br />
person who helps run this conference, Kevin<br />
O'Brien has become a good friend of mine.<br />
It was very uplifting for me as a man to <br />
see and share our faith with nearly 3000<br />
other men. During the conference I also gave<br />
a talk to the future men, the 14 to 18 year <br />
olds about what it is to put Christ first in <br />
our lives and the response was overwhelming.<br />
<br /><br />
Following on from this I gave missions in<br />
Liverpool and then Tonbridge as well as<br />
talks in a London parish and various schools<br />
around the UK. Again the faith was a joy<br />
to see and experience. We have a God who<br />
is not only full of mercy but full of miracles,<br />
when we try to put him in first place in our <br />
lives.<br />
<br /><br />
It gives me immense hope at this time of<br />
Holy week, when our humble Christ <br />
poured out his life for us, to see the<br />
wonderful response of so many people in<br />
so many countries who are willing to take<br />
up that same cross and follow our Saviour<br />
to Calvary and to reap the reward of his<br />
resurrection.<br />
<br /><br />
During this time of Easter let us try to put<br />
him in first place.<br />
<br /><br />
God bless you in his deep love <br />
John Pridmore<br />
<br />John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-36039800260751472672015-02-19T14:41:00.000+00:002015-02-19T14:41:30.261+00:00THE LIGHT OF CHRIST<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">As we are well
into 2015 wishing you a very happy </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">new year </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">and hoping you
are at peace.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Since my
Christmas break I started giving a </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">number of talks </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">in schools from
London, Leicester, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">Stoke, Manchester and </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">Lancashire. This
was a two </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">week tour with many thousands </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">of the young </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">people seeming to be very touched and </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">brought to </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">a
personal experience of Jesus’ love for them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">One of the high
points for me was a school in </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Manchester </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">where after my
talk they had priests </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">available for confessions </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">and I was told
that the </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">young people were still going to </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">confession two </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">hours after the school had finished, which</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">showed me the
hunger of the 16 to 18 year old </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">students to </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">taste God’s
mercy and forgiveness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">After this tour
I went to Spain with a priest friend </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">of mine </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">and gave some
talks in Gibraltar at a prison </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">and parish </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">which were
kindly arranged by Fr Charlie </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">who is a parish </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">priest in
Gibraltar who I got to know </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">as my friend when I </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">ran a youth
retreat in the summer </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">of last year.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Fr Charlie is a
great witness of a priest who </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">puts God </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">in </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">first place in
his life and seems </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">to work tirelessly to </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">bring </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">others to a
deeper </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">relationship with Jesus. My </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">priest friend </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">who </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">travelled
with me also gave some </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">talks in </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">Spain and </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">Gibraltar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">It often seems
strange to me that there has </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">only ever </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">been </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">one diocesan
priest canonised </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">in the history of the </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">Church (St John
Vianney) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">I have the privilege of spending </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">quite a lot of </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">time staying with diocesan priests around</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">the world, and
must say on the whole they </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">are an </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">inspiration to
me of men trying to </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">live radical lives for </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">Jesus </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">and his
teachings. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">When I am
travelling it gives me time to </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">see the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">media’s </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">influence on our
world </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">and I must say that </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">sometimes it is </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">hard </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">to keep
that hope in Christ’s </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">victory. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">The darkness </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">and evil that
seems to be in </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">so many countries and </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">situations can
bring </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">you to </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">a deep despair. However </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">during </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">this time
of lent </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">we are reminded of how </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">much pain, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">hurt, rejection </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">and fear that our </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">Saviour suffered at the </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">hands of </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">evil,
even </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">unto death. Only for the glorious light </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">of the </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">resurrection to take place and conquer death </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">and </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">evil forever.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">So it is when I
stay focused on the wonder </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">of Christ </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">and </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">the hope in his
victory that </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">the darkness in our </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">world seems </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">to </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">evaporate and
the light comes </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">pouring in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Despair, fear
and hopelessness knocked on </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">the door, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">faith </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">answered, and
there was no </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">one there!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">We ran two
parish missions when I got </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">back to </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">Ireland </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">in Tallaght, Co
Dublin and </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">Allen in Co Kildare </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">and even </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">though it was </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">freezing conditions the people </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">came in </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">great </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">numbers, which
showed me the thirst </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">that people have to </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">come closer to
God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I also travelled
to Tullow to speak in a </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">secondary </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">school and </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">while I was
there I </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">contacted a priest called </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">Fr Michael </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">kelly </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">(who lives
near there) He played a big </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">part in my conversion </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">over 20 years
ago. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">He was the </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">one of the first priests </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">I spoke </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">to after
my initial </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">encounter with God and </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">he told me </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">about the possibility </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">of </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">confession and guided me to a youth </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">retreat which </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">completely transformed my </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">life! This was the first </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">time I had seen
him </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">since then and it was a joy for me </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">to spend </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">some time and
chat over a nice meal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Next I ran a
school retreat in the beautiful </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">setting of the </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">Franciscan
friary at </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">Rossknowlagh in Co Donegal. During</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">the day most of
the young people took </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">the opportunity to </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">go to confession
and I </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">hope and pray that it lead them to </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">a deeper </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">relationship with Christ.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Please pray for
me over the next few </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">weeks as I will be </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">travelling to
Texas, Tampa, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">Chicago, Juarez, Mexico City, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">Bantry, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">Liverpool,London and Tonbridge to talk in </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">Parishes, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">schools, youth
groups and prisons.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">You are very
much in my heart and prayers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">God bless you in
his deep love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>558</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3185</o:Characters>
<o:Company>St. Patrick's Community</o:Company>
<o:Lines>26</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>7</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3736</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">John Pridmore</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-2935474057503600542014-12-20T09:30:00.000+00:002014-12-20T10:06:48.141+00:00TRUE PEACE<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnD2kTNbBc2f78ijX8CnLuCabsEY6Anx70LtszEJB6Ln59CQJxu26PZwjubyWxuw2A2Di8QyATqz__hag-qbnQGIc_ri9ocQ_snhmI7jJpyf5pRncpP0XqHn5yP_aYc1rtoFvHzSAzOU/s1600/Jack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnD2kTNbBc2f78ijX8CnLuCabsEY6Anx70LtszEJB6Ln59CQJxu26PZwjubyWxuw2A2Di8QyATqz__hag-qbnQGIc_ri9ocQ_snhmI7jJpyf5pRncpP0XqHn5yP_aYc1rtoFvHzSAzOU/s1600/Jack.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Wishing you a very blessed and merry Christmas.</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
During this season where the child Jesus comes into</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
the world to bring his light and healing I am reminded</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
that many people ask me how can they find true </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
peace? I have always felt Mother Teresa's description</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
is not only wise but profound.</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
She said "The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
is service and the fruit of service is peace."</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
Sometimes in our lives it is very easy to take our eyes</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
or our hearts off what really matters and what is </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
important to God. I often feel when I am leaving to</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
start a mission what a privilege it is to serve Jesus</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
and there is a joy in my heart. But when I feel the</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
burden of tiredness or selfishness and the desire </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
of what I want, the joy is always lost and I am left </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
with a begrudging heaviness.</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
When we ask Jesus for the grace to really give, and </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
to give until it hurts, we receive all the graces Mother</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
Teresa speaks of. So as this year comes to a close</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
I look back at all the miracles Christ has worked</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
through his broken servant and am in awe and </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
wonder of the servant king as the shepherds and</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
the magi were. </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
After Ballyfermot I travelled to Kildimo in Limerick </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
to run a parish mission for Fr John Donworth which</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
was a very blessed time. I had the privilege to speak</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
at a school that was dedicated to St john Bosco and</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
it was beautiful to see the Salesian priests reflecting</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
the joy and patience of the great man. For the </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
last 20 years I have been giving talks to young people in</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
schools and prisons and have met some who are </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
very wounded and very angry. St John Bosco said</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
"The more a young person screams at you, the more</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
he is saying please love me." In my own life I was </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
someone who was hurt when I was young and would</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
never let anyone get too close to me and would get</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
angry if anyone tried to give me attention, thinking</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
this protected me, but all it did was isolate me from</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
love. But when Jesus showed me in his patience</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
and unconditional love that he would never stop</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
trying, I was melted as I feel young people are if</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
we reflect that patience and unconditional love.</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
I then travelled to Galway to give a mission for an</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
old friend Fr Tadgh. He is a priest who has a joy </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
and a happiness and when I asked him on my last</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
visit why he is so happy, he said "It is because I</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
work hard at being a priest" and the words of </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
Mother Teresa came back to me "Give until it</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
hurts!" It was a very blessed mission with lots of</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
graces.</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
I then flew to Chicago where I gave a talk at a </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
mens conference in the great lakes. I always </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
have a deep joy in seeing men gather because </div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
of their love for Christ.</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
After this I flew to Sacramento in California. The</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
priest and the people were very open and loving</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
and there was a depth of faith in this parish.</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
While I was in Sacramento I made a special friend</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
called Jack, who is a boy who serves for Jesus in</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
Mass and has a deep gift of love in his heart.</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
(Merry Christmas Jack!).</div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
During this time one lady came up to me and </div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
said that she was terminally ill with only a few </div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
months left to live and she had felt a great fear </div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
and trepidation about meeting Jesus. But at the </div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
mission she had made a wonderful confession </div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
and now felt an excitement and joy, like the </div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
sunshine had come after the rain. May we all </div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
make a wonderful confession this advent. Our</div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
lives are short on earth but when we open our </div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
hearts to the wonder of our saviour, the servant</div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
king who teaches us to not only give and give</div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
until it hurts, but to give our very everything for</div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
others. This is peace, may we embrace it.</div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
Merry Christmas to you and all your loved ones.</div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419063687245_2526" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px;">
John Pridmore</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-54940751241286316202014-11-12T10:12:00.002+00:002014-11-12T10:12:42.531+00:00SURRENDER TO JESUS<div class="yiv4581730127" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15046" style="background-color: white; color: #006d8f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15045" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">I hope you are well and at peace, </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15044" style="background-color: white; color: #006d8f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15043" style="background-color: white; color: #006d8f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15042" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">Since my last update, I <span class="yiv4581730127" id="yiv4581730127misspell-0">travelled</span> to Stoke </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15026" style="background-color: white; color: #006d8f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">on Trent </span>to do a parish mission with an </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15041" style="background-color: white; color: #006d8f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
old friend Fr Julian Green. He is a priest </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15040" style="background-color: white; color: #006d8f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
who tries to put <span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15051" style="font-size: medium;">Jesus first in his life.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15053" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15052" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">It was a real blessing as </span><span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">he had consecrated </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">whole mission to Mary and though Mary's </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15055" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">prayers to Jesus. </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15054" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">There was many miracles </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15057" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15056" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">and Graces for all the people who attended.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15058" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;"><br class="yiv4581730127" /></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15039" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15059" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">Then I traveled to Douai Abbey in Berkshire </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15061" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15060" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">to speak to young Catholic adults, with some </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15063" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">of the young people </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1415783940733_15062" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">there was a real openness </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">to live their lives for Christ and not get sucked</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">into the world and what it offers. </span><span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">I often feel in </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">our world today how many distractions we </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">come across trying to stop us putting God first.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">A line I hear is "I do not have time to pray" yet </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">Jesus says cut off from him we can do nothing </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">of any worth. </span><span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">There is aways that tendency to </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">be very busy, doing things, but is it in Gods will? </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">and if so, how much time do we spend</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">asking him to bless what we do in his name? </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">A priest friend of mine, when he was </span><span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">given a new </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">parish, decided to ask God in prayer what he </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">wanted him to do. When he received light in his</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">prayer time he did what he felt God was inspiring</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">him to do </span><span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">and his new parish doubled in size.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;"><br class="yiv4581730127" /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">Next I went to Littleborough in Lancashire to run </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">a parish mission </span><span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">with Fr Arthur. The Mission was </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">great and many people came back to confession. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">Fr Arthur was not in the best of health, yet he </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">was trying to bring his people to Christ.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">We got a wonderful letter from him after the </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">mission saying how much wonder God had </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">worked at the mission.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;"><br class="yiv4581730127" /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">During that same week I flew to Hungary to speak </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">to about 3000 people at a conference. </span><span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">It is always </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">a Grace for me to see the faith around the world </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">and what Jesus is doing. In Hungary despite years </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">of </span><span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">communism, there </span><span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">seems to be such a wonderful </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">group of faith filled people, Mother Teresa said that </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">where there is persecution the faith is </span><span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">always strong. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">After the conference I was invited to speak at a </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">school to 400 young people and a prayer group of </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">some 300. </span><span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">The people who looked after me were </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">great witnesses of Christ.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br class="yiv4581730127" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">After this we ran a parish mission in Tipperary, Ireland.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">It is always nice to come back to Ireland and again </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">see the faith </span><span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">in the people be brought back to life by </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">the power of his great love for us. At one mission in</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">Dublin a woman sent a message to tell me that when</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">she heard my testimony of God's mercy and grace in</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">my life it quite literally saved her life because she had</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">decided to commit suicide (she had experienced </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">huge difficulties and suffering especially with her </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">children) she hadn't been to Church in years and she</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">said she didn't even know how she ended up in the </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">church that night, but God's love touched her life in </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">a deep way Jesus brought her healing and new hope. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">I truly </span><span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">believe that these kind of miracles can only </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">happen </span><span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">when people are praying. So for that reason </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">I ask </span><span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">for your continued prayers for my work.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">I pray that each one of us will completely surrender </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">to God's will and be apart of all the Miracles he </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">created us for, a</span><span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">nd that we may all bring many souls </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">to his love.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;"><br class="yiv4581730127" /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">Y</span><span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">ou are in my heart and prayers, </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: 18px;">May God bless you in his deep love.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;"><br class="yiv4581730127" /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;">John Pridmore</span></div>
<div>
<span class="yiv4581730127" style="color: #006d8f; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-17011533697293543612014-09-25T11:50:00.000+01:002014-09-25T11:50:55.218+01:00SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD!Hello Everyone<br />
<br />
I hope you are well and at peace.<br />
<br />
Recently I had the opportunity to spend a week on<br />
silent retreat at a Cistercian monastery in the South<br />
of France. It was a blessing to take time in the<br />
presence of God without any distractions. During<br />
that week I realised how important it is to really put<br />
God first in our lives and the joy that comes when<br />
we do that.<br />
<br />
Following this I travelled to Sainte Maxime la Saint<br />
Baume (Where there is a shrine with the relics of<br />
St Mary Magdalene) to speak at a Eucharistic congress.<br />
The priests who were running the conference were a<br />
fantastic witness to me of people who try to live for<br />
God. One of talks I heard made a deep impact on me,<br />
the priest mentioned that the average person watches<br />
four hours of television per day and he said that when<br />
we stand before Jesus we will have to explain how<br />
much time we have spent watching television and<br />
how much time we have spent in prayer seeking his<br />
guidance and strength.<br />
<br />
It is so easy to lose that intimacy with God and to go<br />
through the motions in our spiritual lives. I for one<br />
have decided to switch off the TV and only watch<br />
what I feel will lead me closer to God. I'm sure all<br />
of us have some distraction or temptation which<br />
hinders our relationship with God.<br />
<br />
When I returned to Ireland I led a healing weekend<br />
at Mount Melleray Abbey. About 60 people attended<br />
and many of them shared how they had received great<br />
grace and healing from the wounds of their past and<br />
a new freedom and joy in their lives.<br />
<br />
After this I set off on a six week trip, where with my<br />
team we led three missions in Scotland and two in<br />
England. We saw some beautiful graces and people<br />
told how they had been to confession for the first<br />
time in many years and had been renewed in their<br />
relationship with God. We also met some great priests<br />
including my old friend Fr Julian Green who we<br />
ran a mission for in Biddulph in Staffordshire. He<br />
is someone who is always searching to find ways<br />
to draw people to God and has great faith. While<br />
we were with him he consecrated his whole parish<br />
to Our Lady knowing that she will lead them and<br />
guide them to Jesus her son.<br />
<br />
Also during this trip I went to speak at the Youth<br />
2000 prayer festival in Walsingham and it was quite<br />
an emotional time for me because Youth 2000 are<br />
celebrating their twenty fifth anniversary of running<br />
eucharistic centred retreats for young people. At the<br />
retreat I met many old friends and I was reminded<br />
how I set up the first Youth 2000 retreat at<br />
Walsingham. Myself and my friend Niall arrived<br />
there in February 1999 and were wondering at the<br />
possibility of running a retreat there. We had no<br />
money and only one contact in the local vicinity.<br />
So we sat down in the middle of the field opposite<br />
the shrine and we prayed a rosary asking Our Lady<br />
that if she wanted the event she would bless and<br />
guide all the practical details. Six months later we<br />
sat down in the same field to pray in thanksgiving<br />
that Our Lady had made it possible to bring 2000<br />
young people from every corner of the country to<br />
spend five days in prayer before the Blessed<br />
Sacrament and there had been great miracles during<br />
those days. The beautiful thing is that the retreat<br />
continues annually to this day. That is the power<br />
of Our lady's intercession!<br />
<br />
Over the last few weeks I have spoken to thousands<br />
of young people in schools around the country and<br />
I would ask for your continued prayers for this<br />
ministry that the seeds that are planted may grow<br />
in good soil in their hearts. Like for all of us is it<br />
so easy for the worries and distractions of this world<br />
to stop those seeds from growing and bearing fruit.<br />
<br />
You and all your intentions are very much in my<br />
prayers.<br />
<br />
God bless you in his deep love<br />
John Pridmore<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-36978372935150672022014-07-10T12:25:00.001+01:002014-07-10T12:36:12.698+01:00WHO IS MY MOTHER?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqgp_WFhbV9dgrd3BUPzy1Y-X-CgLG3KwA91Pn_njTy5DXhCIV1E43Jru-yWJ7ND_xz88okwxKVBkdWm7LRj4q_aNBF3vLcsGtZKnOVgpzWCn_h7d2LPQ6D6cB8fq7QcODwWg607Ffdk/s1600/Consecration+Front+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqgp_WFhbV9dgrd3BUPzy1Y-X-CgLG3KwA91Pn_njTy5DXhCIV1E43Jru-yWJ7ND_xz88okwxKVBkdWm7LRj4q_aNBF3vLcsGtZKnOVgpzWCn_h7d2LPQ6D6cB8fq7QcODwWg607Ffdk/s1600/Consecration+Front+Cover.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Hello everyone,<br />
<br />
I hope are well and at peace.<br />
<br />
Since my last update and being filled with the grace<br />
of Our Lord's resurrection over Easter, I gave a<br />
mission in Co Laois, Ireland. The parish priest<br />
there had spent many years in Brazil and was a<br />
world of information about the make up of the<br />
Church in South America. He explained to me<br />
about liberation theology and how this came<br />
about in the ministry of some priests. As with<br />
all areas where we can be misguided or misled<br />
they seemed to start with a very good intention,<br />
but it is when we step across that line of obedience<br />
to the teachings of the Church that the problems<br />
start. However this priest had a love for the Church<br />
and the people he served and was a good witness.<br />
There was one middle aged woman at the mission<br />
who had a deep fear of the Church and of authority<br />
because of a retreat she attended when she very young.<br />
Despite this the Holy Spirit guided her to come<br />
to the whole mission, she went to confession<br />
for the first time since she was a child and her fear<br />
was healed.<br />
<br />
Next I travelled to Knock (The national shrine where<br />
Our Blessed Mother appeared in Ireland) There I<br />
gave a weekend retreat based on healing the wounds<br />
of our childhood. It was a programme I did myself<br />
where I received many graces and a freedom to serve<br />
God more fully. At this retreat we witnessed Our<br />
Blessed Mother reaching into the peoples hearts and<br />
bringing a deep sense of God's love and a real sense<br />
of self acceptance.<br />
<br />
Over the last few years I have been working on my<br />
4th book entitled "Consecration To Jesus Through<br />
Mary" This consecration based on St Louis de<br />
Montfort's writings changed my life and brought<br />
me to oceans of Jesus I did not know or understand<br />
until I gave my heart to Mary to present to Jesus,<br />
and in so doing I could see Jesus as his Mother<br />
Mary does. St John Paul II stated that this<br />
consecration was a turning point in his life along<br />
with countless other Saints and Holy men and<br />
women. After the retreat in Knock I had<br />
the opportunity to finish the book and it is now<br />
available from my website or any good bookshop.<br />
<br />
I then travelled to England where I spoke in a<br />
number of schools to a few thousand young people.<br />
I always enjoy this part of my ministry and the<br />
response of the young people through their openness<br />
to the truth of Christ's love for them. It was also<br />
very obvious on this particular trip the amount<br />
of teachers who really want the young people to<br />
know God's plan for them and are prepared to put<br />
themselves out for this grace.<br />
<br />
Then I gave a parish mission in Manchester which<br />
was very blessed. Some of the priests from the<br />
surrounding area were so touched by the confessions<br />
that they came every night and even though on one<br />
night England were playing in the world cup the<br />
Church was still full.<br />
<br />
After this I flew to Gibraltar where I gave a retreat over<br />
a weekend to about 100 young people. This was very<br />
emotional for me as some of those attending had been<br />
really wounded by the world and the culture of death.<br />
But to see God's transforming love bringing them back<br />
to life in him was both wonderful and amazing. The<br />
culture of death promises that if we put ourselves first<br />
and do only was is pleasurable for us with no regard for<br />
others this will bring us life. As I know only too well<br />
the culture of death brings death and pain.<br />
<br />
The culture of life promises that when<br />
we sacrifice ourselves for others, give until it hurts,<br />
helping the weakest and being the light that Christ's life<br />
showed we have fulfilment joy and happiness. The<br />
culture of life brings life to it's fullest.<br />
<br />
During my travels I met a man who I thought was a<br />
Catholic priest, only to discover that he was from a<br />
society that had been excommunicated from the Church<br />
because of their disobedience to the pope and the teaching<br />
of the second vatican council. Whether we move away<br />
from the Church and it's teachings through liberation<br />
theology or thinking that no Mass is valid after vatican II,<br />
the results are the same, disobedience and separation from<br />
the Church that loves us.<br />
<br />
On reflection over the last few months our Church is like<br />
a Mother who is there to both guide us and protect us, who<br />
loves us and cares for us and the more we are obedient to<br />
our Mother and her teachings the freer our lives become.<br />
St Therese of Lisieux stated that for many years she searched<br />
for her true true vocation and then discovered "In the heart<br />
of the Church my Mother, I will be love!"<br />
<br />
I pray that each one of us may be the love of Christ to those<br />
we meet.<br />
<br />
Please pray for my up and coming missions and retreats as I<br />
will be travelling in France, Ireland, Scotland, Hungary and<br />
England.<br />
<br />
You are very much in my heart and prayers.<br />
<br />
God bless you in his deep love<br />
John Pridmore<br />
<br />
www.johnpridmore.com<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-38060565819906586462014-05-16T11:29:00.000+01:002014-05-16T12:09:37.209+01:00THE UNFAILING HOPE OF JESUS<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjr79NCYPWrg2QAkWN9wUMPOFm-7-COgP64OmKad8JWn0uNo1hNflv8Mnt5kIwjAxYeQOXnntr69zu3hLBv4a7BEH1aI6-NxFUT1EC3x_9F7rRr_pIB3l2TfyUbxQPMJ_X-aBIUEZH00/s1600/seaside-7776878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjr79NCYPWrg2QAkWN9wUMPOFm-7-COgP64OmKad8JWn0uNo1hNflv8Mnt5kIwjAxYeQOXnntr69zu3hLBv4a7BEH1aI6-NxFUT1EC3x_9F7rRr_pIB3l2TfyUbxQPMJ_X-aBIUEZH00/s1600/seaside-7776878.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hello everyone</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">I hope you are at peace and had a blessed Easter.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">At the end of March we started a parish mission in Bray </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">by the sea in Ireland, It was a very well attended mission </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">with an almost full church each night. I often hear on my </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">travels around the world that the Church in Ireland is in </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">real difficulties, with people stopping going to Mass. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">However my understanding is very different. The people’s </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">faith in Ireland is wonderful with so many people giving up</span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">their time for their love of Christ. With the missions we </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">run the Churches are normally full each night, and a great </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">number at the weekday morning masses. Maybe it is the </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">hundreds of years that the Irish people have prayed the </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Rosary and kept that closeness with Our Blessed Mother,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">who always brings us to Jesus’s Heart of Love. Bray was </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">very Blessed with a real hunger for God in the people.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">Whenever I am by the sea I think of God and thank him </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">for my conversion, because I remember many years ago </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I was in a prison, and my cell overlooked the beach, each </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">day I would watch people walking or swimming and </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">enjoying their freedom. I always thank Jesus for the freedom </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">he gives me now. Also when I give talks in prison now I like </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">the fact that when I want to leave they let me out because </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">there was a time they would not let me out :-]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">Next I traveled to give a mission in Arklow, County Wicklow.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">There were many Graces with lots of people making great</span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">confessions and finding that personal love that Christ has for </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">each one of us.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">After this mission I went to Croatia to promote my first book </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">which is now in 9 languages including Croatian. This was a very</span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">special visit, I gave talks in Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik. The </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">publisher traveled with me and was a great host and a real man </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">of prayer. About 300 to 400 people came to each talk and there</span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">were lots of radio, TV and newspaper interviews. It always amazes</span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">me how much the media can be used to proclaim the wonder of </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">God and how little it happens. So every chance I get, I give the </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">fullness of Christ's truth.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">When I got back to Ireland it was Holy week and I had my mum </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">come and stay with me. My mum is a big reason why I am with God</span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">she never stopped praying for me and a bit like St Monica </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">stormed heaven for me. It was a good Easter with lots of </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">lessons for me. One Priest said to me a long time ago, </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">every day we need conversion and if we stop being open </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">to conversion we are spiritually dead, so I pray to be </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">converted and change every day.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">After Easter I gave a talk for my friend Patrick McCrystal who </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">runs Human Life International, They are a real powerhouse </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">of Grace against the culture of death and proclaim the </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">teachings of the church in mercy and love, it is always a </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">privilege to be asked to talk for them.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">Lastly I gave a mission in Rathkeal near Limerick. When I arrived </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">in the church, I knelt down at a statue of Our blessed Mother </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">and was reflecting on how unworthy I am to speak on behalf of </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus, with all my sins and failings, but Mary seemed to touch </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">my heart with the love of the Holy Spirit and say it is OK to be </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">broken and a mess just keep on getting up saying sorry, because </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">God loves you so much. And I thanked Jesus for my life in him.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">Please pray for me, I travel to Northern Ireland, Southern Ireland , </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Chicago, England, Spain and France in the next 2 months giving </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">missions and talks. You are very much in my heart and prayers</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">God bless you in his deep love.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">John Pridmore</span></span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
John Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490848128534660211.post-25510370010812430912014-03-31T15:00:00.002+01:002014-04-19T11:02:44.857+01:00PRAYER CHANGES THINGS!Hello everyone<br />
<br />
I hope you are well and at peace.<br />
<br />
In February I had a trip planned to Texas to speak at<br />
a mens conference, but about 1 month before I was<br />
due to go there I found out there was a mix up with<br />
the event. The only problem was I had already booked<br />
my flights. At first I was simply not going to bother with<br />
the trip but as I prayed about it I really felt that God was<br />
asking me to go anyway, even though there were no speaking<br />
engagements planned!<br />
<br />
So I decided to contact two good friends of mine who<br />
have connections in Texas to ask them if they knew<br />
anyone who would like me to speak while I was over<br />
there (even though it was very short notice) I began<br />
to pray asking God to open any doors he wanted me<br />
to walk through. Amazingly there ended up being a<br />
talk almost every single day I was over there.<br />
<br />
I spoke at a life teen event to about 350 teenagers<br />
and it was a very blessed evening. One girl emailed<br />
to say that she had been going through a very painful<br />
time after her parents had split up and she was<br />
beginning to lose her faith. She had been invited to<br />
come to the life teen event but she really didn't want<br />
to go. Yet somehow she ended up going (someone<br />
must have been praying for her) she received a deep<br />
inner healing as she listened to my story and Jesus<br />
showed her that she was precious in his eyes and<br />
he was so close to her in her suffering. There were<br />
many similar emails from young people who were<br />
going through dark times and trying to make sense<br />
of where God was in their lives.<br />
<br />
I met some wonderful people on that visit including<br />
a lady called Elizabeth who arranged for me to do<br />
a parish mission and really looked after me while I<br />
was there. At the mission it was uplifting to see many<br />
people going to confession and telling how much<br />
God had touched their lives.<br />
<br />
I ended up travelling down to Tampa in Florida to<br />
speak at a men's conference at which 800 were in<br />
attendance. These events are so anointed and I had<br />
some great chats with some of the guys and you could<br />
see that God was moving in a powerful way. I would<br />
love to see more of these events in Europe!<br />
<br />
Next I travelled to Wales where I spoke at a youth<br />
2000 retreat, which for me is always a pleasure because<br />
it is through these retreats that I came to experience God<br />
in a deep way in my own life. It was nice to see some<br />
familiar faces and meet up with some old friends,<br />
including Fiona who is doing a fantastic job running<br />
youth 2000.<br />
<br />
After this I flew to Ireland and ran two Parish missions<br />
in Dublin and Coalisland and during the missions I<br />
spoke in the local secondary schools.<br />
<br />
Following this I went to visit my very good friend Fr<br />
Frankie Mulgrew who has now been ordained to the<br />
priesthood for around a year. He is in a parish in<br />
Lancashire and he arranged for me to speak to about<br />
800 students in the local secondary schools over the<br />
course of two days and to speak at all the weekend<br />
Masses in his parish and finally to do a talk on the<br />
Sunday evening.<br />
<br />
The thing that impressed me was that Fr Frankie would<br />
rise at 6am each morning and pray for two hours before<br />
the Blessed Sacrament and had been interceding for<br />
these talks for a long time and had offered Masses for<br />
these intentions. Because of this you could see how<br />
God was touching many hearts and I felt there was a<br />
tremendous openness in all the people I spoke to.<br />
<br />
This just reminded me that prayer is the secret and that<br />
through intercession and perseverance God really can<br />
work miracles, first of all in our own hearts and then<br />
in the hearts of all those we meet. <br />
<br />
You are very much in my prayers, please pray for me.<br />
<br />
God bless you in his deep love<br />
John PridmoreJohn Pridmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17353747199325870927noreply@blogger.com0